Collapsible folding chair with umbrella

ABSTRACT

A seating device which includes a frame and webbing bridging the frame to create a horizontal surface and back to support the torso of a user. The frame includes at least one tubular member oriented vertically as constituting at least a portion of the back of the seating device. A cylindrical pole having first and second ends is provided sized to telescope within the tubular member. A releaseable locking device is provided in conjunction with a tubular member for releaseably retaining the first end of the cylindrical pole within the tubular member and a functional device appended to the second end of the cylindrical pole. The functional device can include such items as umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/790,574 filed on Apr. 8, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention involves a seating device, being tubular in natureand capable of receiving a cylindrical pole which, in turn, supportssuch diverse items as umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating devices, such as chairs, benches, stools and the like arecommonly used outdoors while viewing sporting events, while camping andat the beach. As in any outdoor activities, one often seeks shade andprotection from wind or the elements. In doing so, it is commonplace toemploy an umbrella or other type of shelter. It is also common todisplay a flag or banner particularly at sporting events all of whichrequires a substantial vertical support member, such as an aluminum polewhich must be erected and properly supported in a pre-selectedorientation.

If one was to erect, for example, an umbrella at a sporting event, onewould obviously seek a large patio size version for maximum protection.Patio-sized umbrellas or, for that matter, shelters, banners or flagsall require a significant anchoring system to prevent them fromcollapsing or being blown away as a result of the significant surfacearea that the fabric portions of such devices occupy. Verticallyextending supporting poles for such objects generally are used inconjunction with heavy bases acting as anchors or supports which aredifficult to transport and situate on the sidelines of a sporting eventor while camping.

Although foldable chairs composed of metal frames are commonplace, noone has suggested the combination of a seating device with a verticallyoriented cylindrical pole for supporting an umbrella and the like. Suchseating devices can be made of tubular metal, such as aluminum whoseframe members are draped with webbing to create a seating surface andback where the tubular frame can act not only as structural elements forthe seating device itself but as receivers for umbrellas, flags, bannersand shelters without having to provide for cumbersome, heavy and weightincurring fixtures as suggested by the prior art.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a seatingdevice which is capable of receiving as part of its frame, a cylindricalpole which can be employed to support umbrellas, flags, banners andshelters and which can be employed to support them without the need forweighted bases or elaborate fixtures.

This and further objects will be more readily apparent when consideringthe following disclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a seating device comprising a frameand webbing bridging said frame to create a horizontal surface andbacking to support the torso of a user. The frame is characterized ascomprising at least one tubular member oriented vertically asconstituting at least a portion of said back, a cylindrical pole havingfirst and second ends sized to telescope within said tubular member anda releaseable locking device providing conjunction with said tubularmember for releasably retaining the first end of the cylindrical polewithin the tubular member. A functional device, such as an umbrella,banner, flag or shelter is appended to the second end of the cylindricalpole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a chair and an umbrellaconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views of various alternative clamps employedin retaining a vertically extended cylinder to the frame of a seatingdevice pursuant to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention showing anembodiment in securing a seating device to its ground support forstability.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention showing the application of a flag or banner rather than anumbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention in which two seating devices are employed in tandem to supporta suitable shelter pursuant to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, seating device 10 is depicted as typifying thepreferred embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, seatingassembly 10 includes a tubular frame composed of, most ideally, tubularaluminum as being relatively strong and lightweight and suitable for useherein. Bridging frame components 4 is webbing 2 which is typicallycloth, plastic or vinyl sheeting creating horizontal surface 15 and back16 to support the torso of a user (not shown). For the sake ofconvenience, the present disclosure repeatedly characterizes the framecomponents as being “tubular.” However, this term, as used herein, isintended to embrace open linear members having any number of crosssection of shapes such as ovals, squares, triangles and rectangles. Theonly requirement of such members is that the pole supporting, forexample, an umbrella and the like removably fits therein.

Back 16 is supported by vertically extending tubular member 4 asconstituting a back portion of the frame. Cylindrical pole 18 havingfirst (lower) and second (upper) ends is sized to telescope withintubular member 4 as shown. As is immediately obvious, cylindrical pole18 supporting umbrella canopy 1 at its second or upper end is maintainedin position using nothing more than frame component 4. In doing so,there is no need for elaborate add on devices to add stability to theumbrella canopy such as a heavy weighted base or stand. The mere bodyweight of a user supported by assembly 10 would be enough to keep theumbrella from blowing over or otherwise being impacted by the elements.

Cylindrical pole 18 can be maintained in position through the use ofvarious clamping devices as best depicted in FIGS. 2-4. For example,reference is made to FIG. 2 in which locking clamp 3 is placed withintubular member 4 for receiving vertically extending cylindrical member18 therein. In this embodiment, locking clamp 3 includes cam handle 25which, when moved in the direction of arrow 26, applies an internalclamp surface onto cylindrical member 18 thus selectively holding itwithin clamp 3 and, in turn, tubular member 4.

FIG. 3 depicts several alternative retainers for maintaining cylindricalmember 18 in its vertical orientation within tubular member 4.Specifically, FIG. 3 shows the application of pins 6 which can passthrough aligned openings within cylindrical member 18. Alternatively,thumb screws 5 can be selectively screwed down within tubular member 4until the outer surface of cylindrical member 18 is confronted.Alternatively, as noted in FIG. 4, a locking screw can be employedwherein nut 7 is screwed within or removed from tubular member 4 byproviding screw threads therein corresponding to threads 8. Turning nut7 in a clockwise direction would cause cylindrical member 18 to beselectively retained within tubular member 4 and extend vertically fromthe back of seat 10.

As a further preferred embodiment, reference is made to FIG. 5 showingchair 50 partially supporting vertically extending cylindrical member18. In this instance, feet 9 are provided having openings therein forreceiving stakes 14. As noted previously, a user of chair 50 wouldeasily provide sufficient weight to ensure that any lateral forcesplaced on cylindrical member 18 such as by a strong wind catching thecanopy of an umbrella appended thereto from toppling chair 50. However,if one wishes to stand and move away from chair 50, it may beadvantageous to employ stakes 14 within feet 9 to ensure that, in theevent of a strong wind, chair 50 maintains its upright orientation.

As noted with reference to FIG. 6, umbrellas are not the only functionalattachment supportable by vertically extending cylindrical member 18. Inthis instance, banner 11 is depicted. As was the case with the umbrellaembodiment discussed previously, support for banner 11 is maintained bysimply telescoping cylindrical member 18 within tubular frame 4 as partof the vertically extending back portion of seating assembly 60 withoutrequiring any further add ons. When appropriate, releaseable lockingfeature 3 can again be employed as necessary, or the other lockingelements 5, 6 and 7 employed as well.

As noted previously, the present invention can also be used to supportsuch diverse items as standing shelters which can provide protectionfrom sun, wind and rain superior to that offered by an umbrella canopy.In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 7 in which chairs 70 and 75are shown having virtually the same tubular frame structure in supportof vertically extending cylindrical poles 18 and 18′. These verticallyextending cylindrical members emanating from tubular frames 4 andincluding releaseable locking members 3 or the like act as supports forshelter 12 which further includes other supporting frame members (notshown).

The benefits in applying the present invention to the configurationshown in FIG. 7 are quite evident. Under normal, static conditions,shelter 12 will remain merely through the support of cylindrical members18 and 18′. In high wind or other adverse conditions, the mere use ofchairs 70 and 75 as seating elements will provide additional support asthe weight of each torso stabilizes the overall configuration. Further,spikes such as those shown as elements 14 (FIG. 5) can be employed inthis embodiment as well to further add stability. It is furtherrecognized that shelter 12 can be disassembled and removed while chairs70 and 75 remain functional merely as seating devices. Also, verticallyextending cylindrical members and 18 and 18′ can be employed to supportumbrellas, banners, and flags and the like as previously discussed.

The iteration of the present invention depicted in FIG. 7 can further bemodified by providing a single bench, love seat or extendedmulti-purpose seating device which can similarly receive verticallyextending cylindrical members within its various vertically extendingtubular frame portions to create the frame work of a shelter. In otherwords, there is no need to restrict the embodiment of FIG. 7 to one inwhich separate chairs 70 and 75 act to support shelter 12. For thatmatter, none of the embodiments of this invention are restricted tochairs as the necessary seating devices. Virtually any seating elementhaving a suitable vertically extending tubular frame that can act toreceive a vertically extending support pole can be considered asconstituting this invention.

1. A seating device comprising a frame and webbing bridging said frame to create a horizontal surface and vertical back to support the torso of a user, said frame being characterized as comprising at least one tubular member oriented vertically as constituting at least a portion of said back, a cylindrical pole having first and second ends sized to telescope within said tubular member, a releaseable locking device provided within said tubular member for releaseably retaining the first end of said cylindrical pole within said tubular member and a functional device appended to the second end of said cylindrical pole.
 2. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said frame is collapsible.
 3. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said webbing comprises fabric.
 4. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said functional device comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an umbrella, flag, banner and shelter.
 5. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said locking device is capable of retaining said cylindrical pole at varying lengths within said tubular member.
 6. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said locking device comprises a cam.
 7. The seating member of claim 1 wherein said locking devices comprises a locking nut.
 8. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said locking device comprises at least one thumb screw.
 9. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said locking device comprises a plurality of pins or bolts.
 10. The seating device of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises two tubular members, both oriented vertically as constituting at least a portion of said back, two cylindrical poles each having first and second ends and each sized to telescope within said two tubular members, each tubular member having a releaseably locking device for releaseably retaining the first ends of said cylindrical poles within said tubular members and a functional device appended to the second end of each cylindrical pole.
 11. The seating device of claim 10 wherein said functional device comprises a member selected from the group consisting of umbrellas, flags, banners and shelters.
 12. The seating device of claim 1I1 wherein the second end of each cylindrical member is appended to spaced apart ends of a shelter for supporting said shelter therebetween.
 13. A seating system comprising two seating devices, each seating device comprises a frame and webbing bridging said frame to create a horizontal surface and vertical back to support the torso of a user, said frame of each seating device being characterized as comprising at least one tubular member oriented vertically as constituting at least a portion of said back, cylindrical poles, each having first and second ends sized to telescope within each of said tubular members, releasable locking members for releasably retaining the first ends of said cylindrical poles within said tubular members and a functional device appended to bridge the second ends of said cylindrical poles.
 14. The seating system of claim 14 wherein said functional device comprises a shelter.
 15. A chair comprising tubular frame members and webbing bridging said frame members having horizontally extending frame members to create a horizontal seating area and having vertically extending frame members to create a substantially vertical back, at least one of said vertical frame members having an open end, a cylindrical pole having first and second ends, the first end sized to be received by said open end and to telescope within said vertical frame member, a releaseable locking device provided in conjunction with said vertical frame member for releaseably retaining the first end of said cylindrical pole and a functional device appended to the second end of said cylindrical pole. 